This practice is rated as Good overall. (Previous rating December 2014 – Good)

The key questions at this inspection are rated as:

Are services safe? – Good

Are services effective? – Good

Are services caring? – Good

Are services responsive? – Good

Are services well-led? - Good

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Front Street Surgery on 7 November 2018 as part of our inspection programme.

At this inspection we found:

• The practice had clear systems to manage risk so that safety incidents were less likely to happen. When incidents did happen, the practice learned from them and improved their processes.
• The practice routinely reviewed the effectiveness and appropriateness of the care it provided. It ensured that care and treatment was delivered according to evidence- based guidelines.
• Staff involved and treated patients with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect.
• Patients found the appointment system easy to use and reported that they could access care when they needed it.
• Although the practice had staff shortages due to retirement and sickness all staff reported that it was a supportive and caring place to work.
• There was a strong focus on staff support, development and continuous learning and improvement at all levels of the organisation. The practice team had been nominated by junior doctors, and won, the GP training practice of the year award 2017 from Hull York Medical school

We saw areas of outstanding practice:

• Clinical staff were given a week’s study leave built into their holiday entitlement each year.

The areas where the provider should make improvements are:

• The provider should ensure that all staff have regular appraisals and training updates.
• The provider should ensure that recruitment checks are undertaken and documented for all staff including locums.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP
Chief Inspector of General Practice

Please refer to the detailed report and the evidence tables for further information.

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced, comprehensive inspection at Front Street Surgery on 10 December 2014 of Front Street Surgery. Overall the practice is rated as good.

Our key findings across all the areas we inspected were as follows:

• Staff understood and fulfilled their responsibilities to raise concerns and report incidents and near misses. All opportunities for learning from internal and external incidents were maximised.
• People told us they were treated with professionalism and respect, and that the practice responded well to patients that were visiting the area for patient care and support.
• The practice worked well with other providers, especially around long term conditions and palliative care.
• The practice offered a variety of pre-booked appointments, extended opening hours and regular home visits.
• Incidents and complaints were appropriately investigated and responded to.
• The practice had a good governance system in place, was well organised and actively sought to learn from performance data, complaints, incidents and feedback.
• The practice actively sought the opinions of staff and patients, working with a well-established patient participation group (PPG).
• The practice showed a patient centred approach to delivering care and treatment.
• The practice was proactive in improving health and access to services and engaged with other health and social care agencies to improve access and patients health.

However there were areas of practice where the provider needs to make improvements.

Importantly the provider should:

• Ensure all staff are aware of policies and make them readily available.
• Ensure Infection Prevention Control (IPC) audits are kept up to date.
• Ensure annual appraisals are completed for all staff.

• Complete chaperone training for administration staff if conducting chaperone duties.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice